West Michigan residents in a four county area can now visit one website to find a variety of public and private transportation options if they need a ride for work, school, medical or social service visits, or intercity travel.

The Ottawa County Transit Coalition recently expanded its website, www.lakeshoreridelink.org, to include the counties of Allegan, Ottawa, Kent and Muskegon. The website, which was first launched in 2010 with transportation providers for Ottawa County only, now includes more than 50 transportation providers with detailed information on their services and costs to help residents find a ride.

Rev up your engines, the annual 28th Street Metro Cruise is here. There will be 15 miles of cool vintage cars and trucks along the famous street on Friday and Saturday. There are so many fun activities that you should check out the Metro Cruise web site. You will find information about the Sock Hop Dance, Pinup Girl Contest, Dyno Challenge, Swap Meet, Michigan Vietnam Memorial Wall, and so much more.

Be sure to check out the Car-Toon Truck, which features more than 2800 hours of brush and airbrush art on a 1928 Ford Model AR Roadster pick-up. The truck portrays a historical documentary on comics from 1986 to today. It’s located in the Roger’s Plaza lot on August 24 and in Marge’s lot on August 25.

Businesses in Grandville, Wyoming, Grand Rapids, Kentwood and Cascade are participating in this year’s cruise. For more information about the Metro Cruise: http://www.

Breton Avenue is under construction through early September between 44th Street and 52nd Avenue and is completely closed between Whitney Young Apartments and City Hall. City Hall and the Library may be accessed from 52nd Street. The Court and Fire Department may be accessed by Walma Avenue from 44th Street. All Breton Businesses may be accessed via 44th Street.

The emergency access paths are for emergency vehicles only and are not to be used by City Staff or any non-emergency vehicle for that matter. The police department has and will issue tickets for non-emergency vehicles that are using the emergency bypass paths.

I would like to thank all of Kentwood residents for being patient with us during the Breton Avenue construction. I know you will just love the finished product and our City’s first major roundabout. Just remember, if you want the Library or City Hall, access us from 52nd Ave. If you need the Court, Police, or Fire Department, use Walma Ave from 44th Street. Hang in there as we have a month to go!

Brian Ryks has been interested in aviation since he was in college, living in the Twin Cities area. His neighbor was a captain for Republic Airlines, and one day, he asked Ryks if he wanted to go flying.

"He picked me up and we drove south of town to an area between a couple of cornfields at the end of this big gravel path," Ryks recalls. "There was a grass runway between two cornfields. His friend was pulling out a Stearman -- an old, vintage, bi-wing aircraft with a big radial engine. A big yellow plane, the kind they use for barn storming. He started it up and told me to jump in. I put on the old leather goggles and we took off and flew around. When I was up in the air, looking around, I said, 'I need to get involved in aviation somehow.'"